China has announced an extension of its visa-free travel policy for citizens from 11 European countries and Malaysia until 2025, in a bid to boost tourism and strengthen international relationships post-pandemic. The policy allows travelers to visit China for up to 15 days without a visa.
The visa-free policy, initially introduced in early 2024 for a year, has now been extended to include Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. This move aims to enhance the exchange of people between China and Europe and promote more openness.
Despite the lifting of strict COVID-19 measures, international travel to China has not fully recovered, with significantly lower numbers compared to pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, only 35.5 million foreigners entered or left China, a sharp decline from the nearly 97.7 million in 2019.
China had previously allowed visa-free entry to citizens from Brunei, Japan, and Singapore before the pandemic, with entry resuming for Brunei and Singapore last year. Online travel bookings from Europe to China have surged, with popular destinations including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Sanya, and Chengdu.
In related news, China saw a surge in road and rail travel during a major public holiday, with more people opting for car and train travel to avoid higher airline costs. This cautious spending approach reflects economic challenges, as China aims for a 5% economic growth in 2024. Despite the increase in travel, slow spending is limiting the positive impact on the broader economy.